Oxford Quantum Circuits joins Future Cities Forum's 'Science Cities' discussion event this month

Image: Dr Peter Leek, Chief Technology Officer and founder of Oxford Quantum Circuits - courtesy OQC

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Dr Peter Leek, Chief Technology Officer and founder of Oxford Quantum Circuits will join the science R&D infrastructure panel discussion at our 'Science cities' event at Jesus College Oxford.

Peter founded OQC in 2017 and is a pioneer in the field of quantum computing, particularly known for his contributions to superconducting quantum circuits. As CSO, he sets the company's scientific vision, strategy and R&D to drive long term innovation. Since 2012, he has led his own research group at the University of Oxford, where OQC's core IP was first developed. Peter is also a co-investigator in the UK's national quantum computing research hub, where he continues to play a prominent role in the national programme. 

He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

In September 2025 OQC announced the appointment of Nigel Higgins, Group Chairman of Barclays, to its Board. His appointment reinforces OQC’s commitment to quantum computing for financial services and reflects the growing strategic importance of quantum to the global finance sector.

OQC says:

'Nigel brings more than four decades of experience in global finance. He has served as Group Chairman of Barclays since 2019, following a 36-year career at Rothschild & Co, where he held senior leadership roles including Co-Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman. He brings extensive board-level experience in the governance of major organisations; he has served as a Non-Executive Director of Tetra Laval, a position he has held since 2016; and Chair of Sadler’s Wells since 2017. A graduate of the University of Oxford, Nigel has many years of experience as an investment banker and strategic adviser, including to several European governments.

'He joins the OQC Board at a pivotal time for the company and the wider industry. His appointment follows that of Colin Bell, former CEO of HSBC Bank plc and HSBC Europe, who joined the Board earlier. Together, Nigel and Colin bring considerable expertise in global banking and risk management, bolstering OQC’s ability to deliver quantum computing solutions that are optimised for financial services.

'Quantum computing is expected to deliver measurable impact in financial services by 2028. From fraud detection and risk modelling to cybersecurity and trading optimisation, quantum computing offers the potential to solve problems beyond the reach of classical systems. OQC is already working with leading financial institutions to explore and deploy these capabilities.

'The appointment brings further commercial and leadership expertise at the most senior level to reinforce OQC’s mission to deliver enterprise-grade, application-ready quantum systems that unlock competitive advantage for customers, and thereby strengthening the UK’s position as a global quantum leader.'

Nigel Higgins said:

“Quantum computing has the potential to reshape financial services—from how institutions manage risk to how they protect and process information. OQC is at the forefront of this transformation, and I’m pleased to join the Board at such a pivotal time. I look forward to working with the leadership team to help bring quantum advantage to finance and other sectors of national and global importance.”

In September 2025 – Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), and Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR) announced the launch of the first Quantum-AI Data Centre in New York City, located at Digital Realty’s JFK10 facility and built with NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips.

Science Minister Patrick Vallance commented:

“Quantum computing could transform everything – from speeding up drug discovery to supercharging clean energy so we can cut bills. The economic prize is enormous, with £212 billion expected to flow into the UK economy by 2045 and tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs on offer. OQC’s launch of the first quantum computer in New York City showcases British tech excellence and strengthens our transatlantic ties. And the industry’s first quantum-AI data centre will put British innovation at the heart of next-gen computing – delivering speed, scale and security to tackle problems today’s tech is yet to grasp.”

Peter obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2006, working with Prof. Charles Smith on combining surface acoustic waves with carbon nanotubes to build mesoscopic charge pumps.

He then went on to work as a PDRA with Prof. Andreas Wallraff at ETH Zurich, on superconducting quantum circuits and circuit quantum electrodynamics between 2006-2010. Peter subsequently worked with Prof. Klaus Ensslin between 2010-2011, on the realisation of circuit QED with semiconductor quantum dots, in collaboration with the Wallraff group.

In 2012 Peter set up a superconducting circuit research activity at the University of Oxford, funded by EPSRC career acceleration and ERC career integration grants.

Since then, Peterʼs group have worked on a range of hybrid and superconducting circuit QED research (see publications, research). In 2017 Peter founded the spin-out company Oxford Quantum Circuits which is working on commercialising quantum computers that harness innovations from the group’s research.